'Timid to the End' Hong Myung-bo, Clung to 'Three-Back Formation' Despite Desperate Need for a Goal

*This content was translated by AI.

A single goal was desperately needed. It was crucial to score and advance from the Round of 32. If they finished third in the group, goal difference would become the next issue. However, Coach Hong Myung-bo ultimately did not take a gamble. He maintained the three-back formation until the very end. He was more concerned about the risk of conceding additional goals than his determination to equalize. Coach Hong's timid tactical choices, even in a desperate situation, ultimately led to Korea's humiliating defeat and failure to advance directly to the Round of 32.

The South Korean national football team, led by Coach Hong Myung-bo, lost 0-1 to South Africa in the third group stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Qualifiers held on the 25th (Korea time) at the stadium in Monterrey, Mexico. Ranked 25th in the FIFA rankings, South Korea could have secured a spot in the Round of 32 by finishing second in the group, even with a draw against 60th-ranked South Africa. However, they bowed their heads without even managing a draw.

"The worst match in history." This unprecedented harsh criticism from Kim Hwan, a JTBC commentator, after the game perfectly encapsulated the performance of Hong Myung-bo's team that day. It was not a match where a stronger team dominated but conceded a single blow and lost to a weaker side. On this day, South Korea suffered a complete defeat not only in the score but also in the content of the game. The post-match press conference question regarding whether the players had food poisoning also meant that the team's performance was that miserable.

They were unstable from the first half. South Korea, which could afford a draw, focused on playing steadily from the back rather than launching reckless attacks, increasing ball possession. However, this stable game management did not lead to meaningful offensive developments. As the frustrating game continued, Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), the core of the attack, tried to drop down to the three-back line and initiate attacks directly, but even that was not feasible.

Instead, as time passed, South Africa's attacks intensified, targeting the space behind the Korean defense with quick counter-attacks. Fortunately, they barely avoided a decisive goal-scoring opportunity in the first half. Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon FC) made a super tackle to stop the opponent's counter-attack. Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo) made two super saves against the opponent's decisive chances, letting out a sigh of relief.

Substituting Son Heung-min (LAFC), Jens Cajuste (Borussia Mönchengladbach), and Kim Jin-gyu (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors) simultaneously at halftime was a substitution that acknowledged Coach Hong Myung-bo's starting lineup selection for the day was a mistake. However, even after the substitution, South Korea could not turn the tide. Instead, they conceded the first goal in the 18th minute of the second half. In a match where a draw was acceptable, conceding the first goal against a team that absolutely had to win. And it was a single blow suffered without a clear advantage in performance.

If the game ended as it was, South Korea could not advance directly to the Round of 32. Fortunately, news came that Mexico was leading 2-0 against Czech Republic in the other Group A match that kicked off at the same time, effectively erasing the scenario of South Korea dropping to fourth place. However, if they fell to third place, they would have to compare their results with other third-placed teams from other groups to determine their advancement to the Round of 32. It was necessary to somehow balance the situation and advance directly to the Round of 32 by finishing second in the group. This was also the reason why South Africa, which had to beat South Korea to advance to the Round of 32, began to shift its focus heavily to defense.

A bold tactical choice was needed. For example, removing a center-back and increasing the number of forwards in the front line was the most common and sensible option. Fortunately, the bench was waiting with various cards, led by Cho Gue-sung (Midtjylland), including Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic FC), Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan HD), and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz).

However, two minutes after conceding the first goal, Coach Hong Myung-bo substituted Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) for Park Jin-seop (Zhejiang FC). Kim Min-jae requested a substitution due to calf pain, but in the process, Park Jin-seop, who was not an attacking resource, was chosen. Although there was a possibility that Park Jin-seop could have played as a defensive midfielder, he was placed directly in the center of the three-back formation where Kim Min-jae had stood. Coach Hong Myung-bo's three-back formation was maintained.

In the 29th minute of the second half, Coach Hong Myung-bo's final substitution was merely a "like-for-like" swap. Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas), who played at the front, was replaced by tall striker Cho Gue-sung. At a time when an additional attacker should have been brought on, only a player in the same attacking position was changed. After that, Coach Hong Myung-bo maintained the overall tactical framework and sought only a dramatic single strike. However, expecting an equalizer without any significant tactical changes, especially without any risky moves to shake the opponent, was "overreaching."

Following the first goal, Park Ji-sung, a JTBC commentator and former national team legend, repeatedly expressed regret over Coach Hong Myung-bo's tactical choices. Commentator Park said, "It seems they are proceeding with the game while keeping the defensive numbers (three-back) in a situation where they should be attacking," and emphasized, "Many players need to go forward. There should be more players inside the opponent's box. It's not like the ranking changes just because it's 0-1 or 0-2. It's a situation where they must take risks."

However, no tactical changes were made, and they ultimately lost 0-1. Commentator Park pointed out, "We need to reconsider whether this was a match played with the intention to win." He criticized, "It was not clear how they intended to attack. The same regrets have been raised throughout the first three World Cup matches, which makes me wonder if they were not negligent in preparing for the World Cup."

In the post-match press conference, Coach Hong Myung-bo said, "It is true that we played our worst match among the three World Cup games," and added, "The result on such a big stage is the coach's responsibility. In the end, everything was my judgment and decision. Since I judged and decided wrongly, the result was not good. There is nothing more or less to it."

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*This content was translated by AI.